On Beacon Hill, Red Sox fever the law of the land

BOSTON - Framed by the 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies, Gov. Deval Patrick and state officials thanked the Red Sox yesterday for bringing home another championship title.

Lindsey Parietti

Framed by the 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies, Gov. Deval Patrick and state officials thanked the Red Sox yesterday for bringing home another championship title.

``Thank you for the gift that you have given to the city and the commonwealth ... and doing it in four games so we could get back to sleep,'' Patrick said.

In return, Red Sox catchers Doug Mirabelli and captain Jason Varitek showed their gratitude to fans, who were given the rare opportunity to flood the front State House lawn.

``It's as much your championship as it is ours,'' said Varitek, a little hoarse from Tuesday's ``rolling rally'' parade through the streets of Boston. ``Without you guys and your support and excitement that filled up that field, we wouldn't have been able to accomplish half of what we were able to.''

Mirabelli wanted fans to know ``how much you guys are talked about in our club house, how exciting it's going to be when we come out on that field and we know that you guys are going to be there shouting for us.''

But the ceremony on the State House steps wasn't all congratulatory remarks. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, who is used to commanding the attention of 160 lawmakers, seemed disappointed that more of his favorite players weren't on hand.

``Thank you ... to the players Mirabelli, I wonder why he's here today, and Jason Varitek and all the other great players,'' DiMasi said to some confused laughter.

``There's been a lot of talk about re-signing,'' he said, pausing. ``But today we want to re-sign Patrick, DiMasi and Murray for all their leadership.''

That didn't satisfy the fans gathered outside the gates, who quickly erupted into chants of ``re-sign Lowell.''

But most fans and state officials were content just to get close to the players, management and the two golden trophies.

``These trophies belong not to us, not to our organization, but to all of you and to that end there will be a twin trophy tour,'' said Red Sox President Larry Lucchino. ``(We are going to) make sure these trophies get into the hands and into the photographic albums of the people.''

Lucchino promised a repeat performance.

``We are not finished. We are going to celebrate this moment but we will be as hungry as ever, as passionate as ever, as competitive as ever,'' he told a couple hundred cheering admirers. ``We're not trying to be no stinking Yankees. We are going to be the Boston Red Sox, not the Boston Red Sox of your father or your grandfather, but the Boston Red Sox of the 21st Century.''